Tri-County teams compete in Creighton tournament

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Creighton was definitely the place to be this past weekend for American Legion baseball action as nine teams were in action for the Berry Pepper Tournament, June 14 to 16.

Five seniors teams competing were Tri-County, Creighton, Albion, PWG and Wagner, South Dakota. Four junior teams competing were Tri-County, Creighton, Albion and PWG.

The Titans made the short trip over to Creighton for action all three days in either junior or senior games. In the first game on Friday, the junior Titans played Albion and lost the game, 2-11.

Max Bruce was the starting pitcher and went the distance, allowing 11 runs on nine hits and six walks. Bruce struck out four batters.

"As has been the story for the junior Titans of late, Tri-County kept the score close or even tied for much of the game, only to see the opponent put up one big inning to take control of the game," said coach Jeff Shabram.

In this game, Albion erupted for eight runs in the third inning to put the lead out of reach.

Tri-County game stats:

Levi Hoferer: 0-2 batting, 1 BB.

Bruce: 1-3 batting.

Ryan Rifer: 1-2 batting, 1 BB.

A.J. Hobbs: 2-3 batting, 1 2B, 1 run.

Isaac Hoferer: 1-3 batting, 1 run.

Landon Nelson: 1-2 batting, 1 HBP.

Jason Shaver: 0-3 batting.

Rogan Robertson: 3-3 batting, 1 RBI.

Isaac Pavlik: 2-3 batting, 1 RBI.

Saturday action

In Day 2 of the tournament, the Titan seniors started the day by playing Albion, a Class B powerhouse.

Tri-County hung tough for three innings before Albion’s bats broke out and took control, winning the game 0-15.

Shabram said, "The senior Titan bats were making solid contact but most of the time right at Albion’s defense."

Tri-County did muster three hits, two for A.J. Hobbs and one for Isaac Pavlik.

Later in the day, Tri-County’s junior team played Creighton/Bloomfield for the consolation championship and lost a very competitive game, 4-9.

Hobbs and Rifer were the junior Titan pitchers. The fourth inning proved to be the deciding inning as Creighton/Bloomfield scored five runs. Only four runs were scattered throughout the remainder of the game.

Tri-County scored one run, Landon Nelson, in the second inning due to a Jacob Pierzina RBI. Hobbs and Isaac Hoferer scored in the third off Hoferer and Robertson RBIs.

Bruce scored in the fourth, from a Rifer RBI.

"But it was another chapter in the junior Titan story of leaving bases loaded to close out two separate innings. That is a lot of runs left on the bases," Shabram said.

Tri-County game stats:

L. Hoferer: 0-4 batting.

Bruce: 1-3 batting, 1 2B, 1 run, 1 HBP, 1 stolen base.

Rifer: 1-4 batting, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base.

Hobbs: 2-3 batting, 1 run, 1 HBP, 4 stolen bases.

I. Hoferer: 0-3 batting, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 stolen base.

Nelson: 1-2 batting, 1 run, 1 HBP.

Robertson: 1-3 batting, 1 RBI.

Pavlik: 2-3 batting.

Jacob Pierzina: 1-2 batting, 1 RBI, 1 BB.

Sunday action

In day 3 of the tournament, the Titan seniors were back in action versus Wagner, South Dakota in an 11a.m. game, and the 2023 South Dakota state runners-up did not disappoint, according to coach Shabram.

Wagner scored eight runs in the first inning and went on to win the game, 8-0. After getting shell-shocked in the first inning, the Titans tightened up the defense and Wyatt Shabram came in relief to tame the hot-hitting Wagner bats.

Only one Wagner baserunner was allowed the rest of the game.

"Offensively, it was the same story for Tri-County as the game before, getting the bat on the ball but hitting it right to the defense," the coach said.

Tri-County game stats:

Thomson: 0-2 batting.

Shabram: 0-2 batting.

Rifer: 1-2 batting.

Hobbs: 0-2 batting.

Pavlik: 0-2 batting.

Saul: 0-2 batting.

Nelson: 0-1 batting, 1 BB.

I. Hoferer: 1-2 batting.

Bauer: 0-1 batting.

McAllister: 0-1 batting.